Buffalo Bills News - January 3, 2004

Williams may fill Jets' Bill [5:18 AM]New York Daily News reports:
'The Jets' search for a new defensive coordinator will heat up next week. They have scheduled an interview with former Bills coach Gregg Williams, an NFL source said yesterday. The meeting is expected to occur Monday.'

Williams likely to visit Jets [5:17 AM]White Plains Journal News reports:
'Former Buffalo Bills coach Gregg Williams is expected to become the first person to interview for the Jets' defensive-coordinator job when he visits Weeb Ewbank Hall early next week.'

January 2, 2004

Fassel interviews are concluded [8:54 PM]AP reports:
Fassel's interview schedule includes Arizona on Saturday, Chicago on Monday and possibly Buffalo on Tuesday. Rosner (Fassel's agent) said Fassel heard from the Bills for the first time Friday.

The Interviewing Is Underway [3:43 PM]WGR-AM reports:
'Tom Donahoe spent his New Years traveling the country looking for a head coach. Today he's in Foxbourgh to interview Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and New England defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel. Donahoe spent New Years Day in St.Louis interviewing Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith.'

Donahoe meets with Smith; Pats next [9:00 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Smith already has interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants. Chicago is scheduled to meet him today. There is speculation in Atlanta that he may be the Falcons' top choice.'

Ex-coaches have time on their side [8:59 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'A year away from the game did wonders for Coughlin's persona. He no longer is viewed as a tyrant. Instead, his image is that of a shrewd disciplinarian perfectly fit to a franchise in need of a swift and emphatic kick in the pants. He was a finalist for the Bengals job last season and is being heralded as a solution waiting to be tapped. Whether he'd be right for Buffalo is part of the quandary facing Tom Donahoe, president and general manager of the Bills, who has the unenviable task of sifting through a wealth of candidates, tested and untested, and then rendering the most important decision of his tenure.'

Winfield is a priority for Bills [5:16 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'“All around I think this has been my best year since I’ve been in the league,” said Winfield, whose tackle total was a career high. “I would have liked to have had a lot more interceptions and changed a few games around, but I didn’t do that.”'

Bills legend signs off [5:15 AM]Toronto Star reports:
'What set him apart, in addition to his smooth voice, was his objectivity. ``He's a consumate pro among home team broadcasters who reacted without emotion when Buffalo lost those four Super Bowls," says broadcasting veteran Don Chevrier. ``All too many others would have whined and moaned when `their' team lost."'

Crennel, Weis begin process [5:14 AM]Boston Globe reports:
'Arizona and Buffalo also have been granted permission to sit down with Crennel. The Cardinals and Bills likely will do so today, the last day teams with head coaching vacancies can interview assistants on playoff teams with first-round byes until their seasons have ended.'

January 1, 2004

Donahoe dug himself a deep hole [9:00 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Buffalo will forgive him if he gets this organization turned around. I'm not sure how long Donahoe will be here, but I'm positive he'll be elsewhere if the Bills keep piling up losses and missing the playoffs.'

What escape clause? Bills won't get Haslett [5:16 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'So what about that escape clause? Well, it seems it never existed, and many people close to the Saints and Haslett think it’s quite possible that Haslett started the rumor himself.'

Jets contact Williams in coordinator search [5:15 AM]White Plains Journal News reports:
'Williams, fired by the Bills earlier this week, is free to do as he pleases. He was defensive coordinator for Tennessee for four years before the Bills hired him as their head coach two years ago. He has an aggressive, pressure-style defensive philosophy, a trait Edwards is looking for in the new defensive coordinator.'

Jauron on Bills' candidates list [5:14 AM]Chicago Tribune reports:
'Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr. is said to respect Jauron, who has a reputation throughout the league as a level-headed coach with a sharp mind. He also has NFL roots in Buffalo, having coached the Bills' secondary in his first pro job in 1985. Jauron's close friend Dick LeBeau, who coached Jauron in Cincinnati, spent last season in Buffalo as assistant head coach and remains a possibility to stay on the staff.'

Inside slant [5:13 AM]CBS Sportsline reports:
'"We need to get the right head coach and I need to do a better job of doing that this time around."'

Strategy and personnel [5:12 AM]CBS Sportsline reports:
'Aside from QB, finding immediate help at WR, offensive center or guard, TE and defensive end would help nicely. Buffalo needs speed at wideout to stretch the field, take the heat off Eric Moulds, and make the running game work.'

Notes, quotes, anecdotes [5:11 AM]CBS Sportsline reports:
'Bills assistant GM Tom Modrak will interview with the Miami Dolphins, perhaps as soon as Friday, for a newly created GM-like position. Modrak, a 27-year veteran of the NFL personnel wars, is a leading candidate each year at this time for any top personnel job but he's not eager to make a move. He has often said he's content staying in Buffalo and assisting long-time friend Tom Donahoe and this season's disappointing 6-10 record has left a taste of unfinished business in Modrak's mouth.'

December 31, 2003

They Are Starting Over [3:23 PM]WOKR-TV reports:
'All I say is that no one expected Tom Donohoe to hire Gregg Williams. So we can’t assume anything about his choice this time. He’ll talk with Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis of the Patriots, Lovie Smith of the Rams, maybe Dick Jauron, formerly of the Bears. In the end he’ll pick his own guy. But that guy doesn’t have to be anything other than a coach who wins football games.'

Search Begins To Fill Vacant Head Coach Job [3:20 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'"I don't want to say we need 'A, B, C, D' to have a head coach. I think we need to have the right head coach. I've got to do a better job of doing that this time around. We have to do it objectively. We have to do it with an open mind. I don't think we can necessarily put x amount of criteria on it and say, 'this is what we have to have.'"'

Bills' search guided by edict on minorities [9:01 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Among the guidelines: Invitations to interview should be documented in a letter to the candidate; team owners should be directly involved in the search; teams should identify a "deep and diverse" pool of candidates. Teams also are required to prepare a job description that clearly and fully defines the role of its head coach and the qualities it is looking for in its head coach. The guidelines state that telephone interviews are never preferable and seldom adequate. They also strongly suggest that minority candidates for head-coaching positions not turn down interviews. That's an attempt to avoid a repeat of the Lions' situation last year.'

Bills list has 2 Pats coaches [5:20 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'The Bills confirmed on Tuesday that Weis and Crennel are on their early short list of head coaching candidates to replace Gregg Williams, who was not retained after compiling a 17-31 record in three seasons. The others are St. Louis Rams assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Lovie Smith and Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray.'

Modrak focused on improving Bills' record [5:19 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'In the past, Modrak has interviewed for openings with Atlanta and Chicago. But he has often said he’s content staying in Buffalo and assisting longtime friend Tom Donahoe. This season’s disappointing 6-10 record that culminated with the firing of coach Gregg Williams on Monday has left a taste of unfinished business in Modrak’s mouth. “Absolutely. It’s my only focus, really, as it’s been said a hundred times,” he said.'

Fans agree, Gregg's gotta go [5:17 AM]Tonawanda News reports:
'"The decision is three months too late," he said. "He couldn't figure out what his program should have been early in the season and fix it. Thank God he's on his way out."'

Making a Weis choice [5:16 AM]Metro West Daily News reports:
'Charlie Weis as head coach of the New York Giants or Buffalo Bills? With LaMonte in his corner, it just might happen.'

Wolf says no to GM position [5:15 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'According to those close to Modrak, he is considered the quintessential scout, able to pick good players with great consistency. He has little experience, however, at decision-making and isn't considered a strong administrator.'

Dolphins GM candidates [5:14 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'A 27-year veteran of the NFL, including 21 with Pittsburgh. Is considered a strong and consistent talent evaluator. Was with Philadelphia when the Eagles drafted quarterback Donovan McNabb despite public pressure to take running back Ricky Williams. Also has been part of drafts that included players such as Corey Simon, Jeremiah Trotter, Hines Ward and Rod Woodson.'